ABSTRACT

The qualities of the tensegrity structures, which make the technology attractive
for human use, are their resilience and ability to use material in a very
economical way. Thus the construction of the structures using tensegrity
principle will make them highly resilient and reasonably economical at the
same time. Though a lot of research has focused on the theoretical aspect such
as form finding, only a few practical works have been done on how to use these
structures. The main aim of this work is to prove that it is possible to find some
applications for such an atypical kind of structure, in spite of its particular
flexibility and relatively high deflections.

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1. INTRODUCTION [1]
The term Tensegrity was shaped by the American
architect, engineer and philosopher Richard Buckminster
Fuller (18951983).The word Tensegrity is a
contraction of the phrase tension integrity.
Tensegrity structures are 3-D trusses where some
members are always in tension while others are in
compression. Usually for compressive members, solid
sections or bars are used; and string or cable type
elements can be used as the tensile members.
Examples of these structures are Snelson's Needle
sculpture, which was 30m high at the Hirshhorn Museum,
Washington DC.
Fig 1 Needle 2
sculpture
2. PRINCIPLE OF TENSEGRITY [2]
Tensegrity is the name for a interaction between a co-existing pairs of
fundamental physical laws of push and pull, or compression and tension, or
repulsion and attraction.
Tensegrity is a pattern that results when push and pull have a win-win
relationship with each other. Pull is continuous whereas push is discontinuous.
The continuous pull is balanced by the discontinuous push, producing the
integrity of tension and compression.
For example, The balloon consists of a continuously pulling rubber skin being
discontinuously pushed by the individual air molecules in the balloon hence the
balloon is quite strong despite its thin material.

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3. DIFFERENT DEFINITION OF TENSEGRITY [1]

In the article called Tensegrity, Buckminster Fuller (1961) explained The

compression elements become small islands in a sea of tension. Some years
later, he wrote in Synergetics an extended explanation: Tensegrity describes a
structural-relationship principle in which structural shape is guaranteed by the
finitely closed, comprehensively continuous, tensional behaviours of the system
and not by the discontinuous and exclusively local compressional member
behaviours. (1975b, 700.011)
Kenneth Snelson explained Tensegrity describes a closed structural system
composed of a set of three or more elongate compression struts within a
network of tension tendons, the combined parts mutually supportive in such a
way that the struts do not touch one another, but press outwardly against nodal
points in the tension network to form a firm, triangulated, prestressed, tension
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and compression unit. (Snelson, 2004)
 Anthony Pugh gave the following characterisation of tensegrity, A tensegrity
system is established when a set of discontinuous compressive components
interacts with a set of continuous tensile components to define a stable volume
in space.(1976, p.3)
Ren Motro (2003) gave the extended definition, Tensegrity system is a
system in a stable self-equilibrated state comprising a discontinuous set of
compressed components inside a continuum of tensioned components.

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 Fig.2 Fig. 3
False Tensegrity Pure Tensegrity

SOURCE-Tensegrity structures 6
and their applications to
Architecture
4. APPLICATIONS [9]
Tensegrity structures have unique characteristics that parallel the structural
requirements of biology.
Cells are tensegrity structures.

Cytoskeleton is a tensegrity structure.

Geodesic domes are tensegrity structures.

A bicycle wheel - tensegrity model is mechanically more efficient.

Tensegrity structures can be used as furniture.

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 Fig.4 Fig.5
Geodesic dome A bicycle wheel

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 5. MERITS [4]
Due to the ability to respond as a whole, it is possible to use materials in a very
economical way, offering a maximum amount of strength for a given amount of
building material.
They dont suffer any kind of torque or torsion.

They are transferring loads very rapidly, so the loads cannot become local. This is
very useful in terms of absorption of shocks and seismic vibrations. Thus, they
would be desirable in areas where earthquakes are a problem.
There is a balance between tensional and compressive forces that maintains the
stability of the structure.
The structures are efficient. They require only few materials and though the
structures are very light, in fact they are very strong.
Tensegrity structures are selfstabilizing structures. Once the external force is
removed they will return to their original shape. 9
 5. DEMERITS [4]
According to Hanaor (1997) tensegrity arrangements need to solve the problem
of bar congestion. As some designs become larger (thus, the arc length of a strut
decreases), the struts start running into each other.
The fabrication complexity is also a barrier for developing the floating
compression structures.
There was a lack of design and analysis techniques for these structures.

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 6. CONCLUSION
An important step was reached by finding several examples of tensegrity
prototypes that could be applied to Architecture and Engineering. An illustration
to the feasibility of tensegrity as a lightweight structure to cover large spans,
bridge shorter distances or support light infrastructures. Of course, a much more
detailed structural investigation would be necessary, but at least the presupposed
idea of tensegrity as an inapplicable system has been disproved.

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 7. REFERENCES
Tensegrity Structures and their Application to Architecture by Valentn Gmez Jauregui.
An Introduction to the Mechanics of Tensegrity Structures by Robert E. Skelton,University of California, San Diego. J.
William Helton, University of California, San Diego. Rajesh Adhikari University of California, San Diego. Jean-Paul
Pinaud, University of California, San Diego.
Tensegrity based tower structure by ApurvaPrakash, Indian Institute Of Technology Delhi, April-2007.
The Meaning of Tensegrity Principles for Osteopathic Medicine by CarstenPflger, Donau University Krems and the
Vienna School of Osteopathy, October 2008
Adjustable Tensegrity Structures by Etienne Fest, Kristina Shea, Bernd Domer
ADRIAENSSENS, S.M.L. and BARNES, M.R. (2001) Tensegrity spline beam and grid shell structures, Engineering
Structures, Vol. 23, No.1, 2001, pp. 29-36.
APPLEWHITE, E.J. (1986) Synergetics dictionary: the mind of Buckminster Fuller: with an introduction and appendices,
New York: Garland.
ARMSTRONG, R. (2004) Geodesic Domes: Untapped potential? Unpublished BArch dissertation. School of
Architecture, Queens University Belfast.
http://www.biotensegrity.com/tensegrity_new_biomechanics

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 THANK YOU

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